Guides

A verified list of Czech non-profit organisations (NGOs) that provide free or low-cost help to foreigners and migrants in Czechia — mainly in Prague.

Foreigners — including non-EU citizens, students and Ukrainian refugees — can open a bank account in Czechia, though the required documents and conditions vary by bank. Big

A curated list of trusted veterinary clinics in Prague, including facilities offering round-the-clock (nonstop) service and night/weekend emergency care (pohotovost), as well as

A curated list of schools, Saturday (supplementary) schools, and kindergartens in Prague that offer or support education in Russian and/or Ukrainian.

A curated list of trusted specialists and organisations offering psychological and psychotherapeutic support in Russian and Ukrainian in Prague and across Czechia.

A practical guide to renting an apartment in Prague: real listing sites (Sreality, Bezrealitky), 2025–2026 price ranges by district, the kauce deposit, the lease agreement and common pitfalls.

Mobile service in Czechia: the operators O2, T-Mobile and Vodafone, cheap MVNOs, prepaid vs. contract plans, where to buy a SIM card, and which eSIMs are best for tourists.

How to use Prague's public transport: metro, trams, buses, PID tickets and fares, the Lítačka app, zones, night lines and payment — a step-by-step guide for foreigners.

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Prague has very few genuine round-the-clock (nonstop) pharmacies — most close in the evening, and at night medicine is only dispensed by a handful of on-duty pharmacies, often through a night window with a buzzer

Prague has private and international clinics where you can be seen in Russian, Ukrainian, and English — no language barrier, no long waits typical of state polyclinics

A foreigner's overview of Prague's neighborhoods: Vinohrady, Smíchov, Žižkov, Holešovice, Dejvice, Karlín. Atmosphere, transport, prices, and who each area suits best.

The best Prague neighborhoods to live in depend on your budget and lifestyle: for an active urban life, people choose Vinohrady, Karlín and Letná; for families, Dejvice, Prague 4 and Prague 6; and if you want to save money, look at Žižkov,

The safest neighborhoods for living in Prague are Prague 6 (Dejvice, Bubeneč, Střešovice), Letná, Vinohrady, Vyšehrad, and the quiet outskirts to the north and east — Kobylisy, Prosek, and Čakovice. Pickpockets and petty theft are really on

Whether a parcel needs customs clearance in Czechia depends on where it's coming from. Parcels from EU countries arrive freely — no duty, no repeated DPH (VAT), just like a regular domestic shipment. Parcels from outside the EU (China, the

To buy a RegioJet train ticket in Czechia, open regiojet.cz or the RegioJet mobile app, choose your route, date, and number of passengers, then pick a coach class and specific seat, and pay by card — the e-ticket lands in your inbox and pop

Re-registering a car in Czechia (přepis) to a new owner must be done within 10 working days of the vehicle's transfer — at any registr vozidel (the obecní úřad of an ORP) or online via the Portál dopravy. The standard administrative fee for

Car sharing in Prague works as pay-by-the-minute car rental through an app: you find the nearest car on the map, unlock it with your phone, drive off, and leave it anywhere within the allowed zone. The two main free-floating operators are A

The electronic highway vignette in Czechia in 2026 (dálniční e-známka) is purchased online via the official government portal edalnice.gov.cz, at Česká pošta branches, or at EuroOil filling stations — and it's linked to your car's license p

Czech POINT in plain terms: it's a universal one-stop contact point of the state administration (in full, Český Podací Ověřovací Informační Národní Terminál) where, with a single ID document, you can obtain certified extracts from state reg

The Czech alphabet has 42 letters: the familiar Latin script plus letters with diacritics — the háček (č, š, ž, ř), the čárka marking vowel length (á, é, í), and the kroužek above ů. Czech is read almost exactly as it's written, stress alwa

Christmas in Czechia (Vánoce) revolves around one central evening — Štědrý den on 24 December, when the family sits down to carp and potato salad, and gifts appear under the tree not from Santa but from Ježíšek. But the Czech festive calend

Registering a child's name in Czechia is done at the matriční úřad (registry office) covering the place of birth. You can give one or two different names — Czech or foreign — and you need to settle on them within one month of the birth. If

Family reunification in Czechia (Czech: sloučení rodiny, officially "dlouhodobý pobyt za účelem společného soužití rodiny") is a residence permit that lets you bring your spouse and minor children to join you if you're already legally livin

Registering for DPH (Czech VAT) becomes mandatory for a self-employed person (OSVČ) once annual turnover exceeds 2,000,000 CZK in a calendar year — at that point you become a VAT payer (plátce DPH). If turnover crosses the second, higher th

A preventive check-up in Czechia (preventivní prohlídka) is completely free for everyone insured under the public healthcare system — VZP, ČPZP, OZP, ZP MV ČR and other insurance funds. Adults are entitled to a check-up with a GP once every

The best way to exchange currency in Czechia is at a no-commission směnárna (exchange office) offering a rate close to the official ČNB rate (around 24.2 CZK per 1 EUR as of July 2026), or by paying and withdrawing cash with a Revolut or Wi

The most common rental scams in Prague involve demanding prepayment or a reservation deposit (rezervace) before you've even seen the flat, a fake owner who "is abroad and will mail you the keys," and phishing links to fraudulent payment pag

In Czechia, a passenger car goes through its first STK roadworthiness inspection 4 years after initial registration, then every 2 years after that. In 2026, a full inspection including emissions testing costs roughly 2,000–2,700 CZK and tak

A criminal record certificate in Czechia is the výpis z rejstříku trestů, and you can get one in a few minutes at any Czech POINT location — a Česká pošta branch or your city úřad — for 100 Kč. Online, through Portál občana with Identita ob

How do you get příspěvek na bydlení in 2026? Short answer: the old-style housing benefit no longer exists — as of 1 October 2025 it was replaced by a single dávka státní sociální pomoci (state social assistance benefit), known as the superd

Dental care in Czechia in 2026 is partly covered by public health insurance, while everything else varies widely by clinic and region: dental hygiene runs roughly 800–2,200 Kč, a composite filling at a private clinic costs 1,200–3,000 Kč, a

Opening an s.r.o. in Czechia in 2026 means signing the founding document before a notary (in person or online), obtaining a trade licence (živnostenské oprávnění) for 1,000 Kč, paying in share capital starting from 1 Kč, and registering the

Foreigners can buy property in Czechia without a residence permit: since July 2011, all restrictions on real estate purchases by citizens of other countries have been lifted, and the terms of a deal are identical for Czechs and foreigners a

Identita občana — how can a foreigner with a residence permit or permanent residency get one? The fastest way is to activate BankID through your Czech bank's online banking: it takes a couple of minutes and requires no trips to any office.

Free Czech language courses for foreigners in Czechia are run by integration centers — Integrační centrum Praha (ICP) in the capital and the regional Centra na podporu integrace cizinců (CPIC) — as well as by nonprofit organizations and cou

Where to look for an apartment in Prague: the main platforms are Sreality.cz, Bezrealitky.cz, and UlovDomov.cz, plus Facebook and Telegram groups where owners rent out directly. Sreality has the largest database, but almost all listings com

A rental agreement in Czechia comes in two forms: nájem — a direct contract with the property owner, which gives the tenant strong protection under the civil code, and podnájem — a sublease arranged through the primary tenant, where protect

Short answer: an employment contract (HPP) almost always wins on protection — paid leave, sick pay from day 15, severance pay, and a pension your employer builds up for you. A trade license (OSVČ) usually wins on take-home money — roughly f

Pediatricians in Czechia (praktický lékař pro děti a dorost, PLDD for short) look after children from birth up to roughly age 19: preventive checkups, mandatory vaccinations, treating illnesses, and issuing prescriptions. As of January 1, 2

To renew a long-term residence permit in Czechia, you need comprehensive health insurance (komplexní zdravotní pojištění) with coverage of at least EUR 400,000 per insured event, valid for the entire period of the requested stay. A standard

Giving birth in Czechia is available to foreigners regardless of status — with a long-term residence permit, permanent residence, or even without any residence permit at all: no hospital can legally refuse to deliver your baby. The real que

Work in Czechia for Russians without knowing the language mostly means warehouses, manufacturing, logistics, construction, cleaning, and hotels — and with English, international companies in Prague and Brno. The key factor in 2026 isn't lan

The easiest way to check a car by VIN in Czechia is through Cebia: on cz.cebia.com you enter the VIN, see for free how many records on the car exist in the database and for what period, and if you want, purchase the full AUTOTRACER report —

Diploma nostrification in Czechia is the official recognition of foreign education as equivalent to Czech education. Secondary school certificates and vocational diplomas are recognized by the regional authority (Krajský úřad) in your place

Individuals in Czechia file their tax return (daňové přiznání) for 2025 with their local tax office (finanční úřad) by April 1, 2026 on paper, or by May 4, 2026 electronically via the MOJE daně portal or Datová schránka. If your return is p

The flat-rate tax in Czechia (paušální daň) is a single monthly payment for self-employed OSVČ that replaces three separate obligations at once: income tax, social insurance, and health insurance. Three bands apply in 2026 — 9,162, 16,745 a

Health insurance for foreigners in Czechia comes in two types: comprehensive insurance (komplexní) — for long-term visas and permanent residence permits, and insurance for necessary and urgent care (nutná a neodkladná péče) — for short trip

Buying a used car in Czechia in 2026 comes down to a few clear steps: find a car on Sauto, TipCars, AAA Auto or Bazoš, check its history by VIN, sign a written contract, and register the change of ownership (přepis) at the vehicle registry

Yes, foreigners can get a mortgage in Czechia — but your residence status and where your income comes from are the deciding factors. EU citizens are treated almost the same as Czechs by banks, while citizens of third countries typically nee

Useful Czech phrases for everyday life aren't a tourist phrasebook — they're expressions for real situations: a doctor's appointment, a window at the úřad, a call to your landlord, the checkout at a supermarket. This collection has 100+ phr

A driving school (autoškola) is the only route to a category B licence from scratch in Czechia: the full course takes 2–3 months on average and costs roughly 15,000–32,000 CZK in Prague, plus a 700 CZK administrative fee for the exam. The e

Recognition of a medical diploma in Czechia goes through aprobation (aprobační zkouška) — a mandatory state exam for medical professionals who trained outside the European Union. Without a passed aprobation, you cannot work as a doctor, den

To collect a parcel from Zásilkovna, wait for an SMS, email, or in-app notification with a six-digit code, then pick up your order at a Z-BOX locker (open 24/7) or at a pickup point (výdejní místo). At a Z-BOX, you simply key in the code on

A tax refund in Czechia means getting back overpaid income tax (daň z příjmů) after filing your annual daňové přiznání (tax return) and applying the tax credits (slevy na dani) and deductions from the tax base (nezdanitelné části) you're en

Russian and Ukrainian shops in Prague mean, above all, the Vlaštovka ("Ласточка") and Jablonka ("Яблонька") chains, Mix Markt supermarkets, and the newly arrived Ukrainian chain Best Market — these are the easiest places to find familiar pr

Utility bills in Czechia are made up of rent (nájem), energy (energie — elektřina and plyn), water (vodné a stočné), heating (teplo), internet, and building fees (SVJ, fond oprav). When you move in, you pay monthly advances (zálohy), and on

To see a doctor in Czechia, the first step is to register (registrace) with a general practitioner for adults — praktický lékař pro dospělé. Find a doctor who's taking new patients, bring your insurance card (kartička/průkaz pojištěnce) and

The rental deposit in Czechia (legally called jistota, commonly known as kauce) may not exceed three months' rent and must be returned to the tenant at the end of the tenancy — minus any genuine debts. If the contract doesn't specify an exa

The Czech language exam for permanent residency (A2) is a mandatory language test for obtaining permanent residence (trvalý pobyt) in Czechia. From 11 April 2026, an updated format takes effect: the level stays the same — A2 — but the Writi

Setting up home internet in Czechia comes down to three steps: first check which technologies are available at your specific address, then pick a provider and plan, and only after that sign a contract and wait for activation or installation

In 2026, a car with Ukrainian plates can only be legally driven in Czechia if it has been entered into the special evidence vozidel s ukrajinskou SPZ (register of Ukrainian vehicles, IS UA). This has been a legal requirement since January 1

Car insurance in Czechia is called povinné ručení — mandatory third-party liability insurance required by law, covering damage you cause to other people. Without valid povinné ručení, a car cannot legally be driven on Czech roads: the Česká

A sworn translator in Czechia (in Czech, soudní překladatel) is a specialist listed in the official register kept by the Ministry of Justice, whose translations are recognized by every Czech úřad (authority). Their work — known as soudní př

The cheapest way to send money abroad from Czechia is through Wise or Revolut: both use the real market (mid-market) exchange rate and charge a transparent fee of roughly 0.3–1%, while a standard bank transfer quietly loses you another 2–4%

To get a trade license in Czechia (živnostenský list, OSVČ status), you need to file an application (ohlášení) with any Živnostenský úřad in person or online via the Portál živnostenského podnikání, pay a state fee of 1000 Kč (800 Kč for el

The best bank in Czechia for a foreigner in 2026 is Air Bank, Fio banka, or ČSOB if you want a completely free account with no strings attached, and Raiffeisenbank if English-language app and support matter to you (this account is also free

To open an account with a Czech bank as a foreigner, in most cases all you need is your passport plus a second form of ID — and, if you're from outside the EU, a residence permit or visa as well. Czech law guarantees your right to a basic a

You can change your health insurance company (zdravotní pojišťovna) in Czechia only once every 12 months, and only as of 1 January or 1 July. The application (přihláška) must be submitted to the new insurer at least 3 months before the switch: by 31 March if you want to switch from 1 July, and by 30

To read labels in a Czech supermarket with confidence, it helps to know a handful of key words: flour types (hladká, polohrubá, hrubá), fat percentages on dairy, the difference between máslo and rostlinný tuk, and the two expiry dates — spotřebujte do and minimální trvanlivost.

In Czechia, notations like 2+kk or 3+1 in property listings work like this: the first number is the count of living rooms, while "+kk" or "+1" tells you the kitchen type. "kk" (kuchyňský kout) means a kitchenette built into the living room, while "+1"

Apostilles in Czechia are issued by three authorities: the Ministerstvo zahraničních věcí (MZV, Ministry of Foreign Affairs) — for most documents (matriční doklady, certificates, diplomas after preliminary certification); the Ministerstvo spravedlnosti (Ministry of Justice) — for court and enforcement (exekutorské) documents; and the Notářská komora ČR (Czech Notarial Chamber) — for notarial deeds. Which authority you need depends entirely on who issued your document.

Traffic fines in Czechia in 2026 range from 1,500 Kč for minor offenses to 75,000 Kč for refusing an alcohol test, and along with the fine, the driver receives 2, 4, or 6 penalty points. Once you rack up 12 points, you lose your driving privileg

In Czechia, almost all medicine prescriptions are issued electronically — this is the eRecept (electronic prescription). Instead of a stamped piece of paper, the doctor sends you a 12-digit identifier (identifikátor) by SMS, e-mail, or on a printout, and

How to call an ambulance in Czechia: dial 155 — the direct line to the medical dispatch service (zdravotnická záchranná služba, ZZS), where calls are answered by medical professionals. If your Czech isn't good enough, call 112: operators on the pan-European emergency line also speak

In Czechia, name days are called svátek: every day of the year has one or more names assigned to it in the calendar, and whoever bears that name celebrates almost like a second birthday. Congratulating a colleague, neighbor, or acquaintance on their svátek is simply good

The cost of living in Prague in 2026 comes to roughly 27,000–37,000 Kč a month per person, rent included. A couple needs about 42,000–55,000 Kč, a family with a child around 56,000–73,000 Kč, and a student in a dorm can get by on 13,500–19,0

Bringing a pet into Czechia is allowed under three basic conditions: an ISO-standard microchip, a valid rabies vaccination given no later than 21 days before travel, and the right paperwork — either an EU pet passport or an EU veterinary certificate. If you're travelling from a country outside the EU's "listed" group — which currently excludes Russia, Belarus and Ukraine — you'll also need a rabies antibody titre test and a mandatory 3-month wait after the blood draw.

Discount apps in Czechia fall into three groups: leaflet aggregators led by Kupi.cz, retail chain loyalty apps — Lidl Plus, Kaufland Card, Tesco Clubcard — and cashback services Tipli and Plná peněženka. All of them are free, registration takes a couple of minutes, and Kupi.cz itself estimates average savings on promotional purchases at around 30%.

To enroll your child in school in Czechia, submit an admission application (žádost o přijetí) to a primary school — základní škola — during the official enrollment period, zápis, which since 2026 runs from January 15 to February 15 instead of April, as before.

Parking zones in Prague are the city's paid street-parking system, officially called zóny placeného stání. Streets are marked with three colours: blue zones are for residents with long-term permits, purple zones are mixed and open to anyone who pays, and orange zones are for short stops only. Visitors typically pay 40 to 80 CZK per hour depending on the price band, while a district resident with a valid permit buys an annual resident permit for 600–1,200 CZK.

How to move out of a flat in Czechia without losing money: submit a written výpověď z nájmu (notice to terminate) at least 3 months in advance, or sign a dohoda o ukončení nájmu (termination agreement) with the owner setting a convenient end date. Then hand over the flat using a proper handover protocol with meter readings, transfer the utilities, get your kauce back, and

Emergency numbers in Czechia consist of the single number 112 plus direct lines for each service: 155 — ambulance, 158 — State Police (Policie ČR), 156 — municipal police (městská policie), 150 — fire brigade (hasiči), and 1210 — mountain rescue (Horská služba

Having a baby in Czechia triggers four mandatory processes for foreign parents: obtaining the rodný list birth certificate at the matrika, registering the child with a health insurer within 8 days, filing the child's residence permit application within

Kindergarten enrollment in Czechia (zápis do mateřské školy) in 2026 runs from March 15 to April 15 — the exact day within this window is set by each kindergarten together with the municipality. Applications go directly to the chosen kindergarten, and a guaranteed spot is granted to children age 3+ who live in its catchment area.

A drogerie in Czechia is a store selling cosmetics, household chemicals, hygiene products and other home essentials, and the country's three big chains are dm, Rossmann and Teta. In short: dm keeps stable long-term prices and is known for its own brands, Rossmann

Changing your address in Czechia as a foreigner with a long-term residence permit isn't just a move — you're legally required to report your new address to the Ministry of Interior's OAMP (hlášení změny místa pobytu) within 30 days if you plan to live at the new place for longer than 30 days.

Marrying a foreigner in Czechia is arranged through the matriční úřad (matrika) — the civil registry office at the town or district authority. The foreign partner will need a passport, a birth certificate, and a certificate of legal capacity to marry (vysvědčení o právní způsobilosti k uzavření manželství) no older than 6 months, while citizens of non-EU countries must also provide a police certificate confirming legal stay, no older than 7 working days before the wedding.

As of July 2026, the best savings account rates in Czechia stand at 4.0–4.25% per annum. The formal top rate comes from the Artesa cooperative at 4.25%, though it requires a mandatory membership contribution; among banks, mBank leads with 4.21%, followed by Raiffei

Rohlik is usually where people in Czechia start when it comes to grocery delivery: orders over 749 Kč arrive the same day, delivery is free from 1500 Kč, and its coverage area has long since spread beyond Prague — after expanding into southern Bohemia, the company now says it reaches nearly the whole country.

Which mobile operator to choose in Czechia depends on two things: how much data you need and whether you're willing to sign a contract. Short answer: for no-strings-attached savings, go with a virtual operator like Kaktus or Mobil.cz — starting at 250 Kč a month

You don't need to pay crypto tax in Czechia in 2026 if you've held your coins for more than 3 years, or if your total proceeds from crypto sales in a calendar year didn't exceed 100,000 Kč. In all other cases, profit must be declared as

Where can you buy groceries cheaply in Prague? Short answer: the cheapest basic basket with no discounts at all is at the discounter Lidl, while if you're willing to use store apps, Albert comes out on top. An April 2026 comparison confirmed this with hard numbers

What a data box is, the activation deadline, delivery fiction, and ways to log in.

A step-by-step checklist for your first weeks in Czechia: documents and address, bank account, SIM and internet, health insurance, housing, transport and language — in order, without unnecessary bureaucracy.

Who is required to exchange their driving licence, what documents you'll need, where to apply in Prague, and how much it costs.

A step-by-step guide to extending temporary protection (tymchasovyi zakhyst) for Ukrainians in Czechia: two mandatory steps, official channels, and how not to miss the deadlines.

Pass carriers, prices, PID zones, and how to set up a transit pass online.

How the Prague metro works: three lines A/B/C, operating hours, tickets and their prices, validation, transfers and night transport — explained simply for newcomers and tourists.

Prague's main outlets are Fashion Arena Prague Outlet (in the Štěrboholy district) and POP Airport near the airport, offering 30–70% discounts on 200+ brands year-round. If shopping in the city centre suits you better, head to the big malls — Palladium, Nový Smíchov, Westfield Chodov and Arkády Pankrác. Here's how to get there and how non-EU tourists can claim back VAT under the Tax Free system.

Pražský hrad, Karlův most, hrad Karlštejn, Kutná Hora with its ossuary, Český Krumlov, Karlovy Vary, zámek Hluboká and the Adršpach rocks — here's our guide to the top sights in Czechia by region, along with how to get there from Prague.

Brno is the capital of Moravia and the second-largest city in Czechia, just 2.5 hours from Prague. Here's a roundup of the main sights — from Špilberk Castle and Villa Tugendhat to the ossuary, the reservoir and the zoo — with tips on getting there and making the most of a day or two.

A breakdown of which Czech public holidays legally require large supermarkets to close, which shops always stay open, and whether stores are open on 17 November.

24-hour pharmacies in Prague are mostly found at hospitals and a few spots in the centre — the city has around eight or nine pharmacies running on a genuine 24/7 schedule. The most convenient for visitors and residents alike are Lékárna Palackého (Praha 1, near Wenceslas Square) and the pharmacy at Nemocnice Na Františku.

Three ready-made Prague itineraries: on day one, walk the historic centre from Staroměstské náměstí to the Castle; on day two, add Vyšehrad, Petřín and the Jewish Quarter; on day three, head out to Kutná Hora or Karlštejn.

The Czech holiday calendar 2026 includes 13 non-working days. By law, they fall into two categories: 7 state holidays (státní svátky) and 7 other official holidays (ostatní svátky), but January 1 belongs to both categories, so the number of unique holiday dates comes out to exactly 13.

According to the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ), Prague's population stood at 1,405,551 people as of March 31, 2026 — an all-time high and roughly 13% of the entire Czech population. Prague remains by far the country's largest city: more people live here than in Brno and Ostrava combined.